Metropolitan Council Zoning Meeting - August 20, 2025
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Metropolitan Council Zoning Meeting - August 20, 2025
The Metropolitan Council held a zoning meeting on August 20, 2025, addressing multiple rezoning, plan amendment, and right-of-way revocation cases. The council approved, denied, or withdrew several items after public hearings and deliberation.
Consent Calendar
- No formal consent calendar was established; however, several items were approved without public testimony or opposition, including Case 9 (930 O'Neal Lane, CAB1 rezoning), Case 11 (Hearthstone Drive, CAB2 rezoning), Case 12 (PUD concept plan revision), and Case 13 (Parkway Drive right-of-way revocation).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lobdale Avenue (Case 1): Proponent David Patterson (Land Source) represented the Catrone family, emphasizing the restrictive nature of the proposed neighborhood office (NO) zoning and efforts to negotiate with neighbors. Opposition speakers included Sean Bergeron (Old Goodwood Village board), Hampton Grunwald (Goodwood Property Owners Association), Dennis Vedrin, Annalie Campbell (who started a Change.org petition with 223 signatures as of the meeting), Tommy Campbell, and Caroline Messenger. They cited concerns about commercial creep, unknown future use, traffic, property values, and safety. The applicant's rebuttal noted only 12 permitted uses under NO, a 2,500 sq ft building cap, and no drive-throughs.
- Samuels Road (Items 4-5): Jonathan Walker (DHI Properties) spoke in favor of rezoning from rural to light industrial, stating it would clean up a former dirt pit and create an employment center. No opposition speakers.
- Sherwood Forest (Item 6): Antonia Coleman Crump spoke in favor on behalf of applicant Edwin Velasquez, citing property maintenance and efforts to address concerns. Opposition speakers included Troy Flowers, Deborah Dow, Lyndale Brown, Ed Pratt, Jacqueline Ronley, Shoshani Stewart (Park Forest East Civic Association president), Pat Shilodane, Lillian Grosley, and another resident. They argued against a mechanic shop due to property value decline, health hazards, traffic, and existing saturation of similar businesses. They also noted the corridor's future potential after planned road widening (Mickins widening, North Sherwood Forest extension).
- England Avenue (Item 7): Ed Pratt (Monticello resident) requested more time for community input, but was not wholly opposed. Councilman Hearst noted a neighborhood meeting with 10-15 attendees that unanimously supported the rezoning.
- Other items: Brief testimony on Item 8 (Joe Moore for a commercial shopping center rezoning update) and Item 12 (Ray Goff, Magnolia Terrace resident, raised maintenance concerns about the development site).
Discussion Items
- Lobdale Avenue: Council members debated the lot's compatibility with adjacent commercial (B1 to the south) and residential uses. The master plan designates the area for single-family residential but allows small-scale offices where appropriate. Councilwoman Adams discussed landscaping requirements under the UDC and noted that the applicant will need to find a tenant before building. Councilman Mochel supported approval as a transitional use. The motion to approve carried.
- Sherwood Forest: Extensive discussion led by Councilman Hearst, who argued against heavy commercial (HC2) rezoning, citing the area's planned infrastructure investments (North Sherwood Forest extension, Mickins widening) and the need for appropriate development like restaurants or retail. He warned of unintended consequences (e.g., cemeteries, car washes, unlimited gas pumps) and noted the community's past victories against unwanted uses. Councilman Dunn Jr. seconded the motion to deny.
- England Avenue: Councilman Hearst explained the rezoning from A1 to A27 (smaller lots) was consistent with adjacent Monticello filings and the developer committed to offset infrastructure impacts. The item was approved.
Key Outcomes
- Case 1 (1482 Lobdale Ave, rezoning to NO): Approved (motion by Councilman Mochel, second by Councilwoman Adams).
- Items 2-3 (Samuels Rd, plan amendment and rezoning): Withdrawn by applicant; motion to delete carried.
- Items 4-5 (Samuels Rd, plan amendment and rezoning to LI): Approved (motion by Councilman Hearst, second by Councilman Dunn? — second not specified in transcript; carried 7-0).
- Item 6 (3825 North Sherwood Forest, rezoning to HC2): Denied (motion to deny by Councilman Hearst, second by Councilman Dunn Jr.; motion carried).
- Item 7 (11920 West England Ave, rezoning to A27): Approved (motion by Councilman Hearst, second by Councilman Mochel).
- Item 8 (address not specified in transcript; rezoning from rural to commercial?): Approved (motion by Councilwoman Amarosa, second by Councilman Moak).
- Item 9 (930 O'Neal Lane, rezoning to CAB1): Approved (motion by Councilman Mo, second by Councilman Dunn Jr.).
- Item 10 (1540 North Foster, rezoning to CAB2): Deleted (withdrawn) by motion of Councilwoman Harris, second by Councilman Dunn Jr.
- Item 11 (449 & 455 Hearthstone Drive, rezoning to CAB2): Approved (motion by Councilwoman Coleman, second by Councilwoman Adams).
- Item 12 (PUD 3-23, suburb South Baton Rouge concept plan revision): Approved (motion by Councilwoman Coleman, second by Councilwoman Adams).
- Item 13 (525 Parkway Drive, right-of-way revocation): Approved (motion by Councilman Goday, second by Councilwoman Adams).
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everybody to the Metropolitan Council zoning meeting this Wednesday, August 20th, 2025. We're going to call a meeting in order. Actually, we have a quorum. We have a quorum. Be reminded that we're going to have uh on each agenda item where there's a public hearing, we're going to have proponents will speak first and uh followed by the opponents. Each speaker will have three minutes and then the proponents or the applicant will be allowed a three-minute rebuttal. Case one, or number one, case 1325 T 1482 Lobdale Avenue to rezone property from single family residentials to neighborhood office located on the west side of Lobdale Avenue, north of LaSalle Avenue, Council District 11 Adams. Commission action motion to approve carried six to one. Anyone here wishing to speak on this item? We have a list. Wishing to speak in favor, we have uh David Patterson. Good evening, David Patterson with Land Source 6730 Exchequer Drive, Baton Rouge. I'm here representing uh the owners of the property, the Catrones. Uh I was contacted in February of this year by the Catrones to rezone the property, and from day one and consistently through the last five six months, the Catrones made it clear that they want to do something with the property that is in keeping with the character of this unique part of town and that respects both the commercial and residential neighbors. Um the last six months has involved uh a lot of emails, phone calls uh with our councilwoman um Laurie Adams, and thank you for her help and guidance and the leadership of a few of the nearest residential neighbors, neighborhoods. Um in my initial recommendation to the Catrones. Um I recommended that they apply for LC1 that came from me, not from the Catrones. Um after discussions with the planning staff, we decided to apply for neighborhood commercial. Um this zoning significantly limits the uses allowed and the size of any development. Um but in May, we requested that the planning director delay our project to provide a little more time to work with the area residents. Um then, in response to discussion with the neighborhood neighborhoods, uh the Catrones decided to scrap the neighborhood commercial zoning and request neighborhood office, which is um neighborhood office is the most restrictive non-residential zoning that we have in this parish. Um in June, we asked Laurie Adams to defer our request a second time to allow for the change uh the change to neighborhood office and to provide more time to talk with the residents and set up an in-person meeting. This meeting took place on Tuesday, the July 8th. There were 20 approximately 25 residents present representing seven different subdivisions, Goodwood Estates, Goodwood Village, Tilton Court, Boca Condos, Normandy Acres, Township at Old Goodwood, and Lobdale Acres. Um we felt the meeting went well uh after presentations from Mr. Catrone and myself. There was a QA period lasting about 35 minutes. Uh Mr. Controne and I were asked to step out about 30 minutes later, we were invited back into the room to meet with five individuals that represented officers of one or more of the neighborhoods. Uh we were informed that we wouldn't be receiving a letter of support, which had been our goal that night. Um we were told that in this private meeting there were four or five of the twenty-five president present that weren't in that were in opposition to our rezoning request. Um we were also told that the bylaws for the subdivision, and I'm assuming Goodwood estates prevented them from supporting any rezoning other than A1, and that we would not receive any support. And in fact, their official position would be to oppose the rezoning. Um with the time that I have left, um Mr. Paz, you have about 10 seconds. Okay. Um let you finish your thought. Pardon me? I'll let you finish your thought. Okay, thank you. Um, with the time I have left, I'd like to anticipate some of the comments. Um I don't have time for that, do I? Okay. Well, thank you very much. Thank you. And I apologize. We're working on getting the clock pulled up. We're gonna manually track. Uh anyone else wishing to speak in favor of the project. See now, we're going to go to those wishing to speak in opposition.
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